Sterilizer.



ill! G. H. REEVES. STERILIZEB...

. A rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr o. I 975,282. Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

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STEBILIZEB. V APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 28, 1910.

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FLAT RIVER, MISSOURI, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDVIARD GRIFFIN, OF FLAT RIVER, MISSOURI.

STERILIZER.

Application filed June 28, 1910.

To all whom it may con cem:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. Rnnvns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flat River, in the county of St. Francois and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sterilizers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for sterilizing dental and surgical instruments, the primary object of the invention being to provide an apparatus of this character which is simple of construction, inexpensive of production, effective in operation, and composed of a comparatively small number of parts, which are susceptible of being readily and conveniently taken apart for cleaning, transportation and repairs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sterilizer wherein atomizers or spray bottles containing water or solutions may be placed to heat the water or solution contained therein.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sterilizing apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Flg. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 4: is a bottom plan View of the top section. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the tray.

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a sterilizer comprising a base section 1 preferably of oblong, rectangular form and open at top and bottom, so that it may be placed upon a stove or other heater, or receive a heating device of any preferred type. The ends of this section are provided with ventilation openings 2 for the free passage of air to be heated, or to support combustion, within said section. The front of the section is provided with an opening 3 adapted to be closed by a pivoted door 1,

said door having a laterally projecting finer piece 5 adapted to engage a suitable datch 6, whereby the door may be held closed. This door may be opened to permit.

inspection of a contained heating device and to regulate the operation of said device, as occasion may require.

The top of the base section 1 is provided with depressed flanges 7 adapted to support an intermediate section or sterilizing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

Serial No. 569,340.

pan 8. This pan 8 corresponds in form with the base section 1, but is preferably tapered so as to lit snugly, at its base, into the top of said base section and rest upon the flanges 7, whereby its bottom portion will be subjected to the heat of the flame of hot air within the base chamber. The pan is adapted to contain water up to a certain level, and receive an instrument supporting tray 9, preferably formed of a body of perforated sheet metal or reticulated material. The tray is provided with upwardly extending side flanges 10 and downwardly extending end flanges 11, the latter serving to support the tray at a sufficient elevation above the bottom of the pan to prevent the instruments from being subjected to excess heat. In this tray, the instruments to be steri lized may be placed in any desired position, the perforations in the body of the tray permitting the hot water and generated steam to flow over and in contact with all surfaces of the instruments, whereby the latter will be. thoroughly sterilized. Extending longitudinally over the center of the tray is a handle 12 preferably formed of two coiled portions of wire having their ends extending downwardly in divergent relation at the ends of the tray and forming standards connected with the body of the tray to firmly and securely fasten the handle thereto. By this construction, of tray, the sterilized instruments may be readily and conveniently removed either independently of the tray or by Withdrawing the tray from the pan. The pan is adapted to support a top section 14 having a bottom 15 which forms a cover for the pan and is adapted to rest upon the conforming edge thereof. Said bottom 15 is preferably provided with depending end and side flanges 16 to snugly engage the walls of the pan and hold the top section from casual displacement, while at the same time preventing, to a large extent, the escape of steam from the pan.

Supported by the bottom 15 is a water containing vessel, chamber or compartment 17, extending longitudinally the full length of said bottom, but of less width than the same, so as to leave a portion of the bottom projecting beyond the same at the front of said top section. This projecting portion of the bottom is formed with a longitudinal opening 18 adapted to be closed by a hinged lid or cover 19 provided with a finger piece 20, whereby it may be conveniently manipulated. Through this opening, the instruments may be inserted and withdrawn, Whenever it is not desired to remove the top section and tray, and by opening the door 19 to a greater or less degree, the escape of steam from the pan may be regulated and the internal temperature thereof thereby controlled.

The vessel or compartment 17 is adapted.

to contain a supply of Water which will be heated to blood temperature from the heat of the pan or central compartment 8 and is provided in its top with an opening 21 through which it may be replenished with Water when occasion requires, or cleaned in any preferred way. This opening is closed normally by a lid or cover 22 having a knob or finger piece 23 and provided with depending flanges 24 to hold it against displacement. At one end of the vessel is a drain cook 25, whereby the water contained therein may be drawn OK when desired. In the top of the compartment beyond the ends of the opening 22 are formed other openings 26 through which atomizers or spray bottles may be inserted into said compartment and partially submerged in the hot water therein. By this means, water or solutions of diiferent kinds in the bottles may be readily and conveniently heated for use in various dental operations.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that my invention provides a sterilizer consisting of a series of sections which are detachably connected, so that they may be disassembled and compactly arranged for storage or transportation or to enable them to be individually cleaned with greater ease and facility. The construction described also enables instruments of various kinds to be quickly and thoroughly sterilized and easily and conveniently inserted and removed. The invention furthermore will be found of great value to dentists in enabling them to heat Water or solutions for use while the instruments are being sterilized.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a base section forming a heating compartment, a central section forming a sterilizing pan, an instrument supporting tray removably mounted in the pan, a top section comprising a base forming a cover for the pan, and a water containin chamber carried by the base and of less wi th than the same, the portion of said base extending beyond said chamber having an opening therein and provided with a closure for said opening, and means for introducing water into and Withdrawing it from the chamber;

2. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a base section forming a heating compartment, a central section forming a sterilizing pan, an instrument supporting tray removably mounted within said pan, a top section comprising a base forming a cover for the pan, and a heating chamber for Water carried by the base, said chamber having a plurality of openings in its top, and being of less width than the base to leave a portion of the latter projecting, the said projecting portion of the'base having an opening for communication with the pan, and a cover for closing said opening, and a cover for closing one of said openings in the chamber. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. REEVES. Witnesses:

W. D. MnDLooK, L. R. REID. 

